Visual aid for a basketball hoop

ABSTRACT

A visual aid mounts to a basketball rim for shooting practice to help focus the shooter&#39;s eyes on the back of the rim. The visual aid is shock absorbing so as to dissipate forces of impact when the ball hits the device, so as to maintain the device in position inside the net. The device includes straps which are slidably mounted to the body so as to be resilient or elastic during ball impact.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. Ser. No. 16/597,363, filed Oct. 9, 2019, which application claims priority to Provisional Application U.S. Ser. No. 62/743,771, filed on Oct. 10, 2018, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Shooting a basketball well takes a lot of practice and repetition. Coaches often recommend to players to focus on the back of the rim, for example, when shooting free throws. Various prior art devices exist to help a player during shooting practice to focus their eyes on the rim during a shot, such as Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,837 and 5,156,394. These devices provide a visual guide attached to the rim which effectively increases the dimensions of the rim for enhanced visualization during the shot. However, one problem with these prior art devices is maintaining the proper position of the device at all times, without becoming dislodged, misaligned, or detached, which may result by the impact of the basketball on the visual guide. For example, a ball shot from the three-point line has a speed of approximately 18 mph. The standard size basketball weighs 22 oz. With this weight and speed of the basketball, prior art visual aids did not absorb the force of impact from the ball and moved from an initial desired position on the rim. Therefore, there is a need for a visual aid which overcomes the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a visual aid for basketball hoop which retains the desired mounted position below and adjacent the rim during use.

Another objective of the present invention is a provision of a basketball hoop visual aid which is resiliently or elastically mounted so as to absorb the impact of a basketball.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a visual aid target removably attachable to a basketball rim so as to reside within the net adjacent a back portion of the rim to provide a visual aid or to a person shooting a basketball.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a visual aid target for a basketball rim having a one-piece construction.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a basketball hoop visual aid having a body with integral straps that extend over and behind the rim with strap ends insertable into slots in the body for mounting the visual aid to the basketball hoop.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a visual aid to provide a target for basketball shooters which has a keyed slot mounting mechanism for detachably mounting the device to the hoop.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a visual aid which can be quickly and easily mounted on a basketball hoop for shooting practice.

These and other objectives have become apparent from the following description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the basketball hoop visual aid, before installation on the hoop or rim.

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the visual aid with the mounting straps inserted through the mounting slots, but without the rim.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the visual aid shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the visual aid shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the visual aid mounted on a basketball rim in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the visual aid device mounted on the rim, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a close up of the connectors for the visual aid shown extending around the rim.

FIG. 8 is another close-up view of the visual aid mounted on the rim.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the elongated embodiment of the basketball hoop visual aid shown in FIG. 6, before mounting on the rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The visual aid for basketball hoops is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the drawings. The aid 10 is mounted to the rim 12 of the basketball hoop to provide an enlarged visual target for a player shooting a ball. In the preferred embodiment, the visual aid 10 resides substantially within the net 14 of the hoop or basket at an elevation immediately below the rim.

In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-5, the visual aid 10 comprises a body or panel 16 with a pair of spaced apart vertical straps 18, which mount the visual aid 10 to the rim 12. The straps 18 are integrally formed with the body 16 Each of the straps 18 include an outer or terminal end 20 which extends or wraps over the rim 12 and is then secured to the body 16. In a preferred embodiment, the ends 20 of the straps 18 have a head 22 with a reduced diameter neck 24 adapted to be inserted through a T-slot 26 in the body 16, with a vertical leg 28 and a horizontal top 30, as best shown in FIGS. 1-4. As an alternative to the T-shaped slot 26, the slot may have a “t” or cross shape, or may be a horizontal slot without the vertical leg. The inside corners of the T or “t” slot may be square or rounded. Also, the slot may be aligned with the straps 18 (i.e., with the slot leg parallel to the strap axis), or offset with respect to the straps (i.e., the slot leg angularly positioned relative to the strap axis). To mount the device 10 to the rim 12, the strap 18 is twisted 90° so that the head 22 can be pushed through the vertical leg 28 of the T-slot 26, and then moved up and twisted into the horizontal top 30 of the slot 26 for retention.

The width or diameter of the strap head 22 is less than the length of the vertical slot leg 28 and greater than the length of the horizontal slot top 30, so that the head 26 will not pull out of the slot top 30. The neck 24 of the strap is narrower than the width of the top 30 so that the strap 18 is slidable through the slot 26. This slidable connection of the straps 18 to the body 16 allows the visual aid 10 to absorb the forces of impact from the ball. Thus, the slot 26 is in the form of a keyed connection which captures the enlarged head 22 of the strap 18, while the reduced diameter neck 24 is free to slide within the slot to absorb impact from a ball hitting the visual aid 10.

The straps 18 are sufficiently long so as to be loosely fit over the rim 12. The straps 18 are resilient so as to provide an elastic connection between the visual aid 10 and the rim 12. When the visual aid 10 is in a neutral or at rest position, the body 16 resides inside the net 14 adjacent the rim 12. When a basketball goes through the rim 12 and impacts the body 16, the straps 18, slide through the slots 26 such that the straps 18 deforms (vertically and/or horizontally), so as to absorb the impact of the ball. The resiliency of the straps 18 and slidable mounting to the body 16 allows the visual aid 10 to return to the normal, at rest position, so as to be ready for the next shot, without the visual aid 10 becoming misplaced, misaligned, or detached.

The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5 has a relatively narrow width so as to extend less than 90 degrees around the rim 12. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6-9, the visual aid 10A has an elongated body 16A and a plurality of straps 18A for mounting the device 10A to the rim 12. The ends of the straps include opposite side notches 24A to form a narrowed neck, similar to the neck 24 of the straps 18. After the straps 18A are inserted through the slots 26, the enlarged head 22A retains the strap 18A in the body 16A.

An option for use on the visual aids 10, 10A is a secondary horizontal strap 34 which can extend outside the net 14 or be woven through the net chords to further retain the visual aid 10, 10A in position. The strap 34 has opposite ends having an increased diameter head 36 and a decreased diameter neck 38, with the head 36 being inserted through a T-slot 40 for retention to the body 16, 16A. The T-slot 40 for each end of the secondary strap 34, is generally oriented perpendicular to the T-slot 26, with a horizontal leg 42 and a vertical top 44. The head 22A of the secondary strap 34 is turned to insert through the horizontal leg 42, and then slid and turned into the top 44 of the slot 40 for retention.

The body 16 can be various colors, or clear (as depicted in the drawings), or have other visually enhancing features, such as brightly colored decals 48, to focus the shooter's eyes on the back of the rim 12. Also, the body 16A preferably does not extends more than 180 degrees, such that the front of the rim 12 is not obstructed, or otherwise cause the shooter to focus on the front of the rim, rather than the back of the rim. Preferably, the visual aid 10 is made of plastic so as to be light weight and flexible, though other materials can also be used. Also, in a further alternative embodiment, the body 16 may reside outside the net 14, though such position moves the focus for the shooter's eyes further outward from the inside back edge of the rim.

It is understood that the back of the rim is relative to the shooter's position on the court. When the shooter shooting from the front, such as near the free throw line, the visual aid is positioned on the back of the rim nearest the backboard. If a shooter wants to practice shots from a corner of the court, the visual aid 10, 10A can be moved approximately 90 degrees in either direction so as to be positioned on the far side of the rim relative to the shooter's position on the court, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, in all positions, the forward portion of the rim closest to the shooter is open and free from the visual aid 10, 10A. Also, the length of the visual aid may be varied, from relatively short, less than 90°, as seen in FIGS. 1-5, or longer to approximately 180°, as seen in FIG. 9.

In use, when a basketball hits the inside of the rim 12, the neck of the straps slide within the slots, and/or the straps 18, 18A deform or deflect, so as to absorb the impact of the ball, which allows the visual guide 10, 10A to reset to its normal or neutral position after the impact dissipates. In comparison, the prior art straps do not deflect upon impact from the ball, and would break or pop off the rim, thereby precluding the visual guide from returning to its normal position after the ball passes through the net. The straps on the visual guide of the present invention have an outward pressure resulting from sliding of the strap, whereas the prior art straps had an inward pressure resulting from the rigid, non-sliding of the straps or clips. Thus, Applicant's present visual shooting guide 10, 10A is an improvement over his prior art shooting guide, and repeatedly returns to its normal position after impact by basketballs.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 

1. A basketball target system, comprising: a basketball backboard; a rim mounted to the backboard; a net attached to and hanging downwardly from the rim; a body positioned inside the net adjacent the rim in an initial position; a plurality of spaced apart straps extending from the body and around the rim, with each strap having an enlarged head and an elongated narrowed neck; a plurality of slots in the body through which ends of the straps extend to mount the body to the rim with the body curving to follow the curvature of the rim to provide a visual target for a basketball shooter; the necks moving within the slots to absorb impact forces when a ball hits the visual aid; the body having a longitudinal axis; the straps having longitudinal axes extending in the same direction to one another and perpendicular to the body longitudinal axis; and the body and straps being formed as one piece.
 2. The basketball target system of claim 1 wherein the head is removably inserted through the slot, so as to reside on one side of the body while the neck substantially resides on an opposite side of the body.
 3. The basketball target system of claim 1 wherein the straps slide in the slots.
 4. The basketball target system of claim 1 wherein the straps slide in the slots and the body moves from the initial position when a basketball hits the body, and then the body resets to the initial position inside the net.
 5. The basketball target system of claim 1 wherein the straps have sufficient length to extend loosely over the rim and thereby provide a spring action to the body when a basketball engages the body.
 6. The basketball target system of claim 1 wherein the body extends approximately 180 degrees around the rim.
 7. The basketball target system of claim 1 wherein the slots are T-shaped.
 8. The basketball target system of claim 7 wherein each T-shaped slot has a vertical leg for insertion of the head of the strap and a horizontal top to retain the head of the strap.
 9. The basketball target system of claim 1 further comprising a secondary strap, separate from the plurality of straps, removably connected to the body, with the secondary strap weavable through the net to connect the body to the net.
 10. The basketball target system of claim 9 further comprising a pair of T-shaped slots to receive and retain opposite ends of the secondary strap.
 11. The basketball target system of claim 10 wherein each end of the secondary strap has a narrower neck and a wider head and each T-shaped slot has a horizontal leg and a vertical top such that the secondary strap extends substantially horizontally when the body is mounted to the rim.
 12. A basketball target system, comprising: a basketball hoop having a rim and a net, a one-piece member having a body attached to the rim by a plurality of straps so as to be curved inside the net and adjacent the rim, and the straps extending perpendicularly from the body and over the rim and then downwardly back to the body for connection to the body, and slots in the body through which ends of the straps slidably extend so that the one-piece member is resiliently mounted on the rim to provide visual target to a basketball shooter; and the straps sliding in the slots when a basketball impacts the target attachment.
 13. The basketball target system of claim 12 wherein each slot is T-shaped and the end of each strap has an enlarged head which twists to fit through the T-shaped slot and untwists for retention in the T-shaped slot.
 14. The basketball target system of claim 12 wherein the straps each include an elongated narrowed neck and enlarged head for retention in the slot.
 15. The basketball target system of claim 12 wherein the straps form resilient loops extending around the rim.
 16. The basketball target system of claim 12 further comprising a secondary strap removably connected to the body, with the secondary strap weavable through the net to connect the body to the net.
 17. The basketball target system of claim 12 wherein the body extends no more than 180 degrees around the rim.
 18. The target attachment of claim 12 wherein the straps slide in the slots when the body is hit by a ball to absorb impact forces of the ball and to return the body to the initial position.
 19. A method of attaching a target to a basketball rim and net assembly, comprising; positioning a target body inside the net and adjacent the rim; extending a plurality of straps on the target body around the rim; inserting a head on an end of each strap into a slot on the body, and turning the head to retain the strap to the target body, and thereby mount the target body to the rim in an initial position; and allowing the straps to slide through the slots when the body is impacted by a basketball to absorb the forces of the impact.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the straps each have a narrowed neck, and the neck slides in a first direction through the slot when a basketball hits the body and slides in an opposite direction through the body when the impact force dissipates to restore the body to the initial position. 